@Kunit : With the emergence of Colton parayko... And all the injuries the blues have up front... I wonder if shattenkirk could be acquired from the blues...

I want either one of those two. I suggested Pouliot for Parayko a while ago.

But yes, saw a recent rumor from Dreger saying STL was looking for a top 6 forward. They wont want Perron, so we'd have to be moving Hornqvist (probably + something) to get Shattenkirk. Steep price to pay.

effing quotes never work

@Victoro
Probably but not to us. With the emergence of Brian Dumoulin, Derek Pouliot has become pretty expendable if the plan is to trade for a RD. If a package of Kunitz, Pouliot and a second/third could net us Kevin Shattenkirk I don't think we hesitate. We shed a contract that we really need to shed, and Shattenkirk is what we hope Pouliot will become: an Olympic caliber PMD. He's also on a good contract for the next two seasons. However we can stop our pipe dream here because that package, while actually decent, can probably get out done. The prospect may not match ours, but the pick and roster player I have to imagine would be better. But then again, this is the organization that basically faded TJ Oshie for Troy Brower straight up, so who knows.

That's better than my deal. I'd take that deal fo sho. Doubt STL does tho.

@Kunit : With the emergence of Colton parayko... And all the injuries the blues have up front... I wonder if shattenkirk could be acquired from the blues...

I want either one of those two. I suggested Pouliot for Parayko a while ago.

But yes, saw a recent rumor from Dreger saying STL was looking for a top 6 forward. They wont want Perron, so we'd have to be moving Hornqvist (probably + something) to get Shattenkirk. Steep price to pay.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

The players the Pens can realistically walk away from:

BB, Kuni, Dupes, Perron, Plot, Scuds, Lovejoy, DP...what those guys are worth? Not a whole lot.

The players the Pens can realistically walk away from:

BB, Kuni, Dupes, Perron, Plot, Scuds, Lovejoy, DP...what those guys are worth? Not a whole lot.
- sammy87

I'd personally add Matt Murray to that list. I know teams don't often trade for prospective t goalies because its so risky but with the reputation he's getting he has to be worth something.

Do one of the advanced stats websites have a shot chart/heat map for the entire season.. I'm curious to where the majority of the shots are coming from. I know the Pens are giving up a ton of shots, but if a lot of them are perimeter, low percentage shots.. I don't see that as much of a problem.
- j.boyd919

That was my thought too. TK had alot of shots but they were from such bad angles they rarely were a threat. Same thing seems to be happening here?

Got this little blurb from Yohe on DK's site.


• The Penguins aren’t especially pleased with Derrick Pouliot. Oh, getting arrested wasn’t such a good thing, even if a citation for public intoxication isn’t exactly cause for removal from the organization. There are broader maturity concerns within the organization.

Aside from that, the Penguins simply aren’t pleased with how he has performed. There has been an assumption – I’ve made it in a couple of recent Q&A’s – that Pouliot would be with the Penguins sooner rather than later. Don’t forget, the plan in September was for Pouliot to start the season in the NHL.

But things have changed. The Penguins’ defensemen have far exceeded expectations and have stayed healthy through the season’s first month. Adam Clendening, the team’s No. 7 defenseman, is a player they like and yet he’s only seen game action once.

And then there is Pouliot. He’s had some good spurts in Wilkes-Barre but still isn’t playing defensively at the level the Penguins would like. Numerous people I’ve spoken to in recent days have told me that they think it would be best for Pouliot to spend the majority of the season in the AHL.
- madmike71

Pouliot was a reach at the time for Shero and unfortunately its just playing itself out now.

That was my thought too. TK had alot of shots but they were from such bad angles they rarely were a threat. Same thing seems to be happening here?
- kgrpitt

Pens are bottom 5 in shot attempts allowed and bottom 10 in scoring chances/high danger scoring chances. So while they are relatively limiting quality chances based on the number of shots they are allowing, due to the sheer volume they are still surrendering far more dangerous scoring chances. As we've seen in many playoff series under Bylsma, goaltending can be the great equalizer.

War on Ice>Teams>Team Hextally
http://war-on-ice.com/hexteams.html
- jfkst1

So when I look at the Pens with this it seems like there are a lot more shots from outside the slot (home plate) than in the slot, correct? What does the 1.13 close to the blue line, the 1.1 at top of circles and 1.05 in the slot mean? What do these numbers signify?

So when I look at the Pens with this it seems like there are a lot more shots from outside the slot (home plate) than in the slot, correct? What does the 1.13 close to the blue line, the 1.1 at top of circles and 1.05 in the slot mean? What do these numbers signify?
- MattStrat

1 = perfectly average. They are surrendering many shots all over the ice. They are RELATIVELY better at preventing shot attempts from the top of the circles/slot but still below average.

effing quotes never work

@Victoro
Probably but not to us. With the emergence of Brian Dumoulin, Derek Pouliot has become pretty expendable if the plan is to trade for a RD. If a package of Kunitz, Pouliot and a second/third could net us Kevin Shattenkirk I don't think we hesitate. We shed a contract that we really need to shed, and Shattenkirk is what we hope Pouliot will become: an Olympic caliber PMD. He's also on a good contract for the next two seasons. However we can stop our pipe dream here because that package, while actually decent, can probably get out done. The prospect may not match ours, but the pick and roster player I have to imagine would be better. But then again, this is the organization that basically faded TJ Oshie for Troy Brower straight up, so who knows.

That's better than my deal. I'd take that deal fo sho. Doubt STL does tho.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

You know the more I think about it the more it could be a perfect storm. With the Schwartz injury, STL is super shallow at LW. They've got Scottie (frank)ing Upshall playing at 2LW, and if Paijarvi can't even beat out an old fourth line player for top six duties then he's obviously not an answer. Their LDs in Bowmeaster and Gunnarsson are aging and Pouliot is still a top 5 defensive prospect. Ristolanen and Paryako are definitely better but it's definitely debatable who's better between he and Nurse. Add in the pick and these are pieces STL would actually be interested in. Which contending team that would need Shattenkirk has the forward depth to trade a top 9 LW for him AND have the cap match up perfectly? That wasn't rhetorical it's a legitimate question because I don't know.

The players the Pens can realistically walk away from:

BB, Kuni, Dupes, Perron, Plot, Scuds, Lovejoy, DP...what those guys are worth? Not a whole lot.
- sammy87

Just because they arent part of our core doesnt mean they have 0 value. Add in Murray, Jarry, picks and you can still make moves.

I really wish we had gotten Panarin over Plotnikov though. Dude looks legit and if he was here we could easily move another fwd.

Plot is one player where the eye test isnt meeting the stats. He has great advanced stats so far (maybe becuase Cullen has been so good?) but on the ice he's sloppier than a drunk girl on halloween.

1 = perfectly average. They are surrendering many shots all over the ice. They are RELATIVELY better at preventing shot attempts from the top of the circles/slot but still below average.
- jfkst1

Ahh I see. Thanks. Glancing at some of the (current) top teams in the league most of them have less than 1 or less than the Pens in the those perimeter spots.

You know the more I think about it the more it could be a perfect storm. With the Schwartz injury, STL is super shallow at LW. They've got Scottie (frank)ing Upshall playing at 2LW, and if Paijarvi can't even beat out an old fourth line player for top six duties then he's obviously not an answer. Their LDs in Bowmeaster and Gunnarsson are aging and Pouliot is still a top 5 defensive prospect. Ristolanen and Paryako are definitely better but it's definitely debatable who's better between he and Nurse. Add in the pick and these are pieces STL would actually be interested in. Which contending team that would need Shattenkirk has the forward depth to trade a top 9 LW for him AND have the cap match up perfectly? That wasn't rhetorical it's a legitimate question because I don't know.
- Victoro311

Well every contending team would want Shattenkirk if he is truly available (as rumored). He has a lot of value but there may not be a bidding war for him until all the GMs see what happens with Big Buff.

I just have no idea what STL really wants. Hard for me to say. Someone like DET could offer up a better/younger LW but not as good of a Dman.

Well every contending team would want Shattenkirk if he is truly available (as rumored). He has a lot of value but there may not be a bidding war for him until all the GMs see what happens with Big Buff.

I just have no idea what STL really wants. Hard for me to say. Someone like DET could offer up a better/younger LW but not as good of a Dman.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

The cap though. Shat has a cap hit of 4 mil, right? Detroits young forwards won't match the cap and STL may not want to take on spare parts if Detroit even has spare parts. They're an amazingly ran organization. STL' wholes are down the left side in wing and. We actually have that if they place any value on Kunitz at all. Remember, this is the same organization that traded Oshie for Brower and Cole for Bortuzzo. They like grit.

Well every contending team would want Shattenkirk if he is truly available (as rumored). He has a lot of value but there may not be a bidding war for him until all the GMs see what happens with Big Buff.

I just have no idea what STL really wants. Hard for me to say. Someone like DET could offer up a better/younger LW but not as good of a Dman.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I don't see how the Pens could get Shattenkirk. Like you said, winning the bidding war for his services (if he is even available to begin with) is probably going to be nearly impossible. Unless STL do something stupid like Sweeney did with Hamilton, they'll find a better offer elsewhere.

Just because they arent part of our core doesnt mean they have 0 value. Add in Murray, Jarry, picks and you can still make moves.

I really wish we had gotten Panarin over Plotnikov though. Dude looks legit and if he was here we could easily move another fwd.

Plot is one player where the eye test isnt meeting the stats. He has great advanced stats so far (maybe becuase Cullen has been so good?) but on the ice he's sloppier than a drunk girl on halloween.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

I'm reserving judgement on Plotnikov until the later half of the season. The main thing I don't understand about Plotnikov is how he was this physical presence on bigger international ice but I'm not seeing the bulldoggedness on NA ice which should theoretically be easier to play her brand of physical game on? He looked good during the preseason and he's looked good whenever he's with slower skaters like Bonino and Bennett, but he looks so out of place and sloppy with everyone else. I hope he finds his way.

I'm reserving judgement on Plotnikov until the later half of the season. The main thing I don't understand about Plotnikov is how he was this physical presence on bigger international ice but I'm not seeing the bulldoggedness on NA ice which should theoretically be easier to play her brand of physical game on? He looked good during the preseason and he's looked good whenever he's with slower skaters like Bonino and Bennett, but he looks so out of place and sloppy with everyone else. I hope he finds his way.
- Victoro311

I think it was a perception issue, because the KHL is not nearly as physical as the NHL when you see someone being physical it stands out much more than the environment where everyone is playing physical. I kept my hopes up but I never saw anything that led me to believe Plotnikov was going to be an asset in the NHL.

I think it was a perception issue, because the KHL is not nearly as physical as the NHL when you see someone being physical it stands out much more than the environment where everyone is playing physical. I kept my hopes up but I never saw anything that led me to believe Plotnikov was going to be an asset in the NHL.
- jaydogg1974

I watched a few of his international games with Russia and he looked average. Panarin on the other hand stood out. And that has carried over to the NHL. Plot can't skate to save his life. Falls down way too often. Doesn't handle the puck very well either. He's fine with his physicality and I think he passes well but overall he will likely continue to be a 4th liner/healthy scratch.

Being first in 'goals allowed' (tied w/NYR's) is a pretty good achievement with not a whole lot of involved calculations. Yet it has remained a pretty good indicator when judging a team's defense.

I watched a few of his international games with Russia and he looked average. Panarin on the other hand stood out. And that has carried over to the NHL. Plot can't skate to save his life. Falls down way too often. Doesn't handle the puck very well either. He's fine with his physicality and I think he passes well but overall he will likely continue to be a 4th liner/healthy scratch.
- jfkst1

Eh. Let's see what happens. Still could come into his own. He's not spring chicken but he's also not a geezer. Still has room to grow.

I don't see how the Pens could get Shattenkirk. Like you said, winning the bidding war for his services (if he is even available to begin with) is probably going to be nearly impossible. Unless STL do something stupid like Sweeney did with Hamilton, they'll find a better offer elsewhere.
- jfkst1

Yea probably another guy who could go for the 'Jordan Staal package'...1st, top prospect, adequate roster replacement.

Yea probably another guy who could go for the 'Jordan Staal package'...1st, top prospect, adequate roster replacement.
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Had Shero not been stupid and picked Forsberg or TT.....that deal would have been amazing. But SHero sucks. In stead they still got a pretty good deal for a player that was on his way out anyway. Even overpayment IMO.

Let's get Fowler out of Anaheim and call it a day

Jason Mackey tweeted that sprong is likley in as a fourth liner with Cullen and fehr.

They really should be playing him with faster linemates. I like both Cullen and fehr but sprong doesn't seem suited with them. I dont know. Maybe I'm wrong.

Zatkoff in net tonight.